Uganda’s maternal mortality rate still high
Feb 15, 2007
CASES of mothers dying during childbirth are still on the rise. Uganda has been named among the countries with the highest maternal mortality rates, according to Prof. Paul Hunt.
By Charles Ariko
CASES of mothers dying during childbirth are still on the rise. Uganda has been named among the countries with the highest maternal mortality rates, according to Prof. Paul Hunt.
“Ugandan women are dying unnecessarily. The international community had agreed to reduce maternal mortality by three quarters by 2015 but this will not be possible in Uganda.â€
Hunt, a UN envoy on the rights to the highest attainable standard of health, noted that the health sector in Uganda is under-funded, far below the pledged 15% of the national budget as agreed by the African heads of state in Abuja.
“In Uganda, less than 9% of the budget is devoted to the health sector. The Government’s level of investment in health is inconsistent with Uganda’s international human rights obligations.â€
Uganda’s minimum health care package is costed at $28 (about sh49,000) per person per year. Yet public expenditure from the Government and donors is only $9 (about sh15,750) per person per year.
He noted that during the last financial budget, the Minister of Finance did not mention health among the nine priority areas requiring urgent attention.
Hunt was speaking at a press conference at the Grand Imperial Hotel in Kampala on Friday marking the end of his visit to Uganda. He has been carrying out a study on neglected diseases that are affecting the majority of the poor.
CASES of mothers dying during childbirth are still on the rise. Uganda has been named among the countries with the highest maternal mortality rates, according to Prof. Paul Hunt.
“Ugandan women are dying unnecessarily. The international community had agreed to reduce maternal mortality by three quarters by 2015 but this will not be possible in Uganda.â€
Hunt, a UN envoy on the rights to the highest attainable standard of health, noted that the health sector in Uganda is under-funded, far below the pledged 15% of the national budget as agreed by the African heads of state in Abuja.
“In Uganda, less than 9% of the budget is devoted to the health sector. The Government’s level of investment in health is inconsistent with Uganda’s international human rights obligations.â€
Uganda’s minimum health care package is costed at $28 (about sh49,000) per person per year. Yet public expenditure from the Government and donors is only $9 (about sh15,750) per person per year.
He noted that during the last financial budget, the Minister of Finance did not mention health among the nine priority areas requiring urgent attention.
Hunt was speaking at a press conference at the Grand Imperial Hotel in Kampala on Friday marking the end of his visit to Uganda. He has been carrying out a study on neglected diseases that are affecting the majority of the poor.